Revised Mailing Standards for Firearms
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is proposing amendments to Publication 52 — its official guide governing hazardous, restricted, and perishable mail — to align with a legal opinion issued by the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) regarding the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 1715, the federal statute that prohibits mailing concealable firearms. The OLC opinion apparently calls into question or reinterprets some aspect of § 1715's constitutionality, likely in light of recent Second Amendment jurisprudence (e.g., New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, 2022). The proposed rule would update USPS's internal mailing standards to reflect this revised legal interpretation. At its core, the rulemaking signals a potential loosening or clarification of federal restrictions on shipping handguns and other concealable firearms through the mail. Currently, § 1715 broadly prohibits mailing pistols, revolvers, and other concealable weapons, with narrow exceptions for licensed dealers, manufacturers, and certain government entities. This is a proposed rule, meaning it is open for public comment before any final changes take effect. The outcome could significantly affect how licensed firearms dealers, manufacturers, and consumers ship concealable firearms domestically.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- USPS proposes to amend Publication 52 to reflect OLC's reinterpretation of the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 1715
- The change aligns USPS internal mailing standards with DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel legal opinion on concealable firearm shipments
- 18 U.S.C. § 1715 currently prohibits mailing pistols, revolvers, and other concealable firearms with narrow exceptions for FFLs and government entities
+ 3 more changes with Pro
Obligations
What this law requires
USPS must amend Publication 52 (Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail) to conform with the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel opinion on 18 U.S.C. § 1715 constitutionality
USPS must update internal mailing standards and procedures to reflect the revised legal interpretation of § 1715 regarding concealable firearms
USPS must accept public comment on the proposed amendments to Publication 52 before implementing final changes